Exemplary Convincingly and ardently communicates a noteworthy idea to an audience through sophisticated use of rhetorical strategies
StrongEffectively conveys an insightful idea to an audience through consistent and controlled use of rhetorical strategies.
Acceptable
Communicates an idea, but does not consistently address the needs of its audience.
Needs Improvement
Fails to present its ideas to the audience and does not meet some or all of the criteria for the assignment
Thesis/focus
1. Demonstrates an awareness of audience, is sophisticated, and is clearly established and maintained throughout.
2. Central purpose or argument is readily apparent to the reader
3. Shows a thoughtful, in-depth analysis of a significant topic.
4. Reader gains important insight.
1. Intelligent, clearly established, and consistently addressed throughout.
2. Clear purpose or argument, but may sometimes digress from it.
3. Provides reasonable support for central purpose/argument and displays evidence of a basic analysis of a significant topic.
4. Reader gains some insights.
1. Has a central idea is conventional or genera and not consistently clear throughout the paper.
2. At times, information supports central purpose or argument.
3. Analysis is basic or general.
4. Reader gains few insights.
1. is superficial and inconsistently addressed; reveals limited awareness of audience.
2. Central purpose or argument is not clearly identified.
3. Analysis is vague or not evident.
4. Reader is confused or may be misinformed.
Organization
1. Has a clear sense of logical order appropriate to the content and the thesis i.e. flow smoothly from one to another and are clearly linked to each other.
2. Reader can follow the line of reasoning.
1. Ideas are arranged in a clear and controlled manner to support central purpose or argument i.e. usually linked to each other.
2. For the most part reader can follow the line of reasoning.
1. The essay’s organization is choppy and may, at times, be difficult to follow.
2. The reader is fairly clear about what writer intends.
1.Reveals no apparent strategy and lapses in focus and logic.
2. The reader can not identify a line of reasoning and loses interest.
Research (if applicable)
1. Compelling evidence from professionally legitimate sources is given to support claims.
2. References are primarily peer-reviewed professional journals or other approved sources.
3. Uses sources effectively and documents sources accurately.
4. APA format used accurately and consistently in the paper and on the ‘reference’ page.
1. Professionally legitimate sources supporting claims are generally present and attribution is for the most part, clear and fairly represented.
2. Most references are professionally legitimate but some are questionable or uncertain.
3. Minor errors in citing of sources/documents with uncertain reliability.
4. APA format is used with minor error through out paper and on ‘reference’ page.
1. Lacks sufficient research for the topic, poorly incorporates sources, or fails to document accurately.
2. Most references are from sources that are not peer reviewed and have uncertain reliability.
3. Many statements seem unsubstantiated and reader is confused about the source of information and ideas.
4. Frequent errors in APA format through out paper and on ‘reference’ page.
1.Fails to include sufficient sources for topic, incorporates irrelevant or inadequate sources, or plagiarizes.
2. There are virtually no sources that are professionally reliable.
3. References are seldom cited to support statements.
4. Format of the document is not recognizable as APA.
Development
1. Demonstrates critical thinking that is clear, insightful, in depth, and relevant to the topic.
2. Writing is compelling, hooks the reader and sustains interest throughout.
1. Demonstrates critical thinking that is more than adequate, with significant detail; may show depth in thinking and research.
2 Writing is generally engaging, is focused and keeps reader’s attention.
1. Demonstrates limited critical thinking and limited knowledge of the subject.
2. Writing is dull and unengaging and reader finds it difficult to maintain interest.
1. Displays little or no knowledge of the subject, does not form conclusions, or fails to exhibit critical thinking or clear reasoning.
2. Writing has little personality and reader quickly losses interest and stops reading.
Syntax and Diction
1. Uses sophisticated language that engages the reader;
2. Manipulates sentence length to enhance the total effect of the essay;
3. Uses precise language that expresses complex ideas clearly.
1. Demonstrates knowledge of and skill with complex and varied sentence constructions and vocabulary.
2. Flow from sentence to sentence is generally smooth.
3. Word choice is generally precise and effective.
1. Demonstrates competency with language use, but sentence constructions and vocabulary may be limited or repetitive.
2. Sentences are awkwardly constructed so that the reader is occasionally distracted.
3. Word choice is merely adequate, and the range of words is limited. Some words are used inappropriately.
1.Fails to demonstrate competency with language use; sentence constructions and vocabulary may be inappropriate, facile, or incoherent.
2. Errors in sentence structure are frequent enough to be a major distraction to the reader.
3. Many words are used inappropriately, confusing the reader.
Format and Design
1. Fully integrates elements of design to best serve rhetorical purpose.
2. The tone is consistently professional and appropriate for an academic research paper
1. Consistently contributes to the persuasive aims of the assignment.
2. The tone is generally professional and is appropriate for scholarly research paper.
1. Unevenly incorporates elements of design to aid its argument.
2. The tone is not consistently professional or appropriate for scholarly research paper.
1. Makes no attempt to use the elements of design to help persuade its audiences.
2. The tone is unprofessional, is not appropriate for a scholarly research paper.
Mechanics
1. Writing is free or almost free of errors i.e. spelling, grammar, and paragraphing or manuscript format.
1. May contain errors, but these errors do not interfere with the essay’s overall effectiveness.
1. Contains multiple errors that hinder the essay’s readability.
1. Contains serious and multiple errors that seriously hinder the reading of the paper.
Convincingly and ardently communicates a noteworthy idea to an audience through sophisticated use of rhetorical strategies
Communicates an idea, but does not consistently address the needs of its audience.
Fails to present its ideas to the audience and does not meet some or all of the criteria for the assignment
2. Central purpose or argument is readily apparent to the reader
3. Shows a thoughtful, in-depth analysis of a significant topic.
4. Reader gains important insight.
2. Clear purpose or argument, but may sometimes digress from it.
3. Provides reasonable support for central purpose/argument and displays evidence of a basic analysis of a significant topic.
4. Reader gains some insights.
2. At times, information supports central purpose or argument.
3. Analysis is basic or general.
4. Reader gains few insights.
2. Central purpose or argument is not clearly identified.
3. Analysis is vague or not evident.
4. Reader is confused or may be misinformed.
2. Reader can follow the line of reasoning.
2. For the most part reader can follow the line of reasoning.
2. The reader is fairly clear about what writer intends.
2. The reader can not identify a line of reasoning and loses interest.
2. References are primarily peer-reviewed professional journals or other approved sources.
3. Uses sources effectively and documents sources accurately.
4. APA format used accurately and consistently in the paper and on the ‘reference’ page.
2. Most references are professionally legitimate but some are questionable or uncertain.
3. Minor errors in citing of sources/documents with uncertain reliability.
4. APA format is used with minor error through out paper and on ‘reference’ page.
2. Most references are from sources that are not peer reviewed and have uncertain reliability.
3. Many statements seem unsubstantiated and reader is confused about the source of information and ideas.
4. Frequent errors in APA format through out paper and on ‘reference’ page.
2. There are virtually no sources that are professionally reliable.
3. References are seldom cited to support statements.
4. Format of the document is not recognizable as APA.
2. Writing is compelling, hooks the reader and sustains interest throughout.
2 Writing is generally engaging, is focused and keeps reader’s attention.
2. Writing is dull and unengaging and reader finds it difficult to maintain interest.
2. Writing has little personality and reader quickly losses interest and stops reading.
2. Manipulates sentence length to enhance the total effect of the essay;
3. Uses precise language that expresses complex ideas clearly.
2. Flow from sentence to sentence is generally smooth.
3. Word choice is generally precise and effective.
2. Sentences are awkwardly constructed so that the reader is occasionally distracted.
3. Word choice is merely adequate, and the range of words is limited. Some words are used inappropriately.
2. Errors in sentence structure are frequent enough to be a major distraction to the reader.
3. Many words are used inappropriately, confusing the reader.
2. The tone is consistently professional and appropriate for an academic research paper
2. The tone is generally professional and is appropriate for scholarly research paper.
2. The tone is not consistently professional or appropriate for scholarly research paper.
2. The tone is unprofessional, is not appropriate for a scholarly research paper.